The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Sam Rockwell (Extended) | D.T. Phone Homan
Date: January 28, 2026
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode features a lively and revealing conversation between Stephen Colbert and acclaimed actor Sam Rockwell, known for roles in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Galaxy Quest, and the new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. The episode blends Colbert’s signature political satire—particularly around news headlines and the Trump administration—with the extended, playful, and personal interview with Rockwell. Listeners are treated to anecdotes about Rockwell's early New York days, acting career, thoughts on death, and a deep dive into cult movies and time travel.
Key Segments & Highlights
1. Political Monologue & Topical Satire
[01:06–13:02]
- Colbert opens with humor-laced commentary on recent events in Minnesota, focusing on the withdrawal of federal officers and officials’ mismanagement, poking fun at Trump, Tom Homan, and others involved in border enforcement scandals.
- Satirical commentary on scandals involving Greg Bevino ("called Little Napoleon, is short as hell") and Kristi Noem's handling of political crises, blending pointed jibes with absurd humor:
“Trump’s border czar and love child of Shrek and Mrs. Potato Head, Tom Homan.” — Stephen Colbert [02:24]
- Turns to Trump's health, referencing his slip-ups in interviews and the attempt to defend his physical fitness:
“For the record, but off the record, have you ever wondered what it would look like if you watched a Clydesdale decompose in a Hefty bag?” — Colbert [06:01]
- Critique of the failed Melania Trump documentary, lampooning its empty theaters:
“Now, usually, to see Trump bomb this hard, you’d have to be on a Venezuelan fishing boat.” — Colbert [12:26]
2. Weather, Lunar New Year, and Quirky News
[14:58–19:22]
- Colbert comments on extreme winter weather, trees "exploding" in Georgia, and the tradition of Groundhog Day with Punxsutawney Phil, including PETA’s bizarre call for a hologram replacement.
- Playful riff on the Chinese zodiac and viral “Accidental Crying Horse” toy, using these segments to reflect the absurdity and anxious energy of 2026.
3. Interview: Sam Rockwell
[21:51–38:13]
Sam’s New York Origins & Early Career
[22:09–24:25]
- Discusses spending childhood summers in New York, joining his mother (an actress) in theater, and his decision to move to NY at 18.
- Reminisces about early jobs:
“I bussed tables. I was a bar back. I delivered burritos on a bicycle. I did a lot of stuff.” — Sam Rockwell [23:50]
- Shares a memory delivering burritos during the O.J. Simpson Bronco chase:
“And the two women were like, ‘Come in. OJ’s fleeing.’ ...so that’s where I was when O.J. was fleeing.” — Rockwell [24:05]
Law & Order and Procedural TV Stories
[24:26–27:24]
- Both recall playing “the killer” on Law & Order, exchanging banter about their criminal roles.
- Rockwell recounts being an addict on NYPD Blue:
"I got the wrong info about what drug it was... I was doing heroin... the director says, 'No, no, that's all wrong. You're smoking crack. You're meth.' ...And that's what I did. I drank a lot of coffee." — Sam Rockwell [27:05]
On New Film: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
[27:44–34:01]
- Colbert introduces the film:
“You play a guy from the future who travels back in time to recruit a team… to prevent an AI apocalypse.” — Colbert [28:03]
- Rockwell describes his character as “the least qualified guy for the job.”
- Colbert jokes about whether it’s a first date, last date, or “date” movie, and favorite date movies—from Saving Silverman to Doctor Zhivago (the latter both declare “a last date movie”).
The ‘Thing’ Gift & Kurt Russell Stories
[29:30–32:14]
- Rockwell gifts Colbert a MacReady action figure from The Thing, creating a fanboy moment:
“This is fantastic.” — Colbert [30:07] “It is my comfort movie.” — Colbert [30:17]
- Delightful exchange about ambiguous endings, legendary trivia:
“Walt Disney’s last words… Kurt Russell.” — Colbert [31:54]
- On deathbed last words and facing mortality:
“Do you have any thoughts on your deathbed words?” — Colbert [32:14]
“Keith David?... Yeah, I think about it all the time. Sure.” — Rockwell [32:22]
Sci-Fi, Time Travel & Actor Lore
[33:34–36:25]
- Rockwell discusses taking acting direction and channeling influences:
“I was trying to do like a Kurt Russell cool thing. [Director] said, ‘No, no. Too cool... go more like Christopher Lloyd, Robin Williams, Fisher King.’ He was right—it was pivotal.” — Rockwell [33:14]
- Lively discussion of time travel movies (Time After Time, Back to the Future, 12 Monkeys), and Colbert’s (playful) belief that none actually work:
“There’s no time travel movie [that] works. …The one that works closest—I think the Time Turner from Harry Potter comes closest.” — Colbert [34:26]
Friendship, Fighting, and Double Features
[36:26–38:13]
- Anecdote about actors Ralph Richardson and Alec Guinness:
“If you can’t punch your best friend, who can you punch?” — Colbert [36:25]
- Colbert and Rockwell joke about seeing the Melania doc as a double feature.
- Closes with mutual appreciation and in-jokes about acting, medication, and performing through adversity:
“Show must go on.” — Rockwell [37:49]
“Good luck, have fun, Don’t Die is in theaters February 13th!” — Colbert [38:13]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Lines (by Timestamp)
- [02:24] Stephen Colbert: “Trump’s border czar and love child of Shrek and Mrs. Potato Head, Tom Homan.”
- [06:01] Stephen Colbert: “Have you ever wondered what it would look like if you watched a Clydesdale decompose in a Hefty bag?”
- [12:26] Stephen Colbert: “Now, usually, to see Trump bomb this hard, you’d have to be on a Venezuelan fishing boat.”
- [23:50] Sam Rockwell: “I bussed tables. I was a bar back. I delivered burritos on a bicycle.”
- [24:05] Sam Rockwell: “OJ’s fleeing…that’s where I was when O.J. was fleeing.”
- [27:05] Sam Rockwell: “‘No, no, that’s all wrong. You’re smoking crack.’ … And that’s what I did. I drank a lot of coffee.”
- [28:03] Stephen Colbert: “You play a guy from the future who travels back in time to recruit a team… to prevent an AI apocalypse.”
- [30:17] Stephen Colbert: “It is my comfort movie.”
- [31:54] Stephen Colbert: “Walt Disney’s last words… Kurt Russell.”
- [32:22] Sam Rockwell: “Keith David? … Yeah, I think about it all the time. Sure.”
- [33:14] Sam Rockwell: “‘No, no. Too cool… go more like Christopher Lloyd, Robin Williams, Fisher King.’ … it was pivotal.”
- [34:26] Stephen Colbert: “There’s no time travel movie [that] works. …the Time Turner from Harry Potter comes closest.”
- [36:25] Stephen Colbert: “If you can’t punch your best friend, who can you punch?”
- [37:49] Sam Rockwell: “Show must go on.”
- [38:13] Stephen Colbert: “Good luck, have fun, Don’t Die is in theaters February 13th!”
Important Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Highlight | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06 | Colbert’s monologue on Minnesota & Trump admin critique | | 13:02 | Melania documentary’s box office bomb | | 14:58 | Extreme weather, Groundhog Day, and Lunar New Year | | 21:51 | Sam Rockwell interview begins | | 23:50 | Rockwell’s NYC “odd jobs” stories | | 27:05 | Acting on NYPD Blue: “Drank a lot of coffee” method | | 30:17 | Colbert’s love of The Thing | | 31:54 | “Walt Disney’s last words… Kurt Russell” | | 34:26 | Time travel movies debate | | 37:49 | “Show must go on” finale | | 38:13 | Closing with Rockwell and film plug |
Tone & Style
The episode is rich with the Late Show’s witty, satirical tone—combining biting political humor with warm, fast-paced banter in the celebrity interview. Colbert’s interactions with Rockwell are especially engaging, revealing both their comic rhythm and mutual admiration for cult movies, acting, and pop culture oddities.
Summary for New Listeners
This episode is both a current events lampoon and a candid conversation with Sam Rockwell—full of showbiz anecdotes, offbeat humor, and lively debate about movies and mortality. Whether you’re tuning in for Colbert’s political perspective or for Rockwell’s charm and movie talk, it’s a wildly entertaining listen with plenty of memorable moments to quote (and plenty for movie and pop culture geeks to savor).